“I am honored to be the head football coach at The Lincoln University,” Flanigan said. “The fact that the Administration thought enough of me as a person and as a coach to entrust their football program to me is very humbling.”

Lincoln president Dr. Robert R. Jenkins spoke glowingly of his new hire.

“Coach Flanigan is both an experienced coach and former, record-setting Southern Methodist University quarterback and All-American,” he said. “I can think of no better combination in a coach to make our program consistent with our University’s history, and that is, first.”

Flanigan first stepped on to the national scene as a player at SMU, where he finished his career as the school’s career leader in total offense with 7,437 yards and as the school’s fourth all-time leading passer with 5,640 yards.

Flanigan began to make noise in coaching circles after compiling a high-octane offense that helped North Texas win four consecutive Sun Belt Titles. Things ended on a sour note, however, as Flannigan was fired following a 2-9 season and an alleged altercation with a North Texas alum in the stands.

Flanigan later resurfaced at FBS HBCU Mississippi Valley State, where he served as offensive coordinator until he was removed from that position late in the season as the team’s offense struggled.

Flanigan has a tough task ahead of him. Lincoln, the nation’s oldest degree-granting HBCU, suspended its football program for decades. The Tigers have been members of the NCAA Division II since 2008, competing in the CIAA. They were 8-42 under Flanigan’s predecessor, O.J. Abanishe.

But that’s all water under the bridge. Flanigan will have to hit the ground running, as the season opens up in just over five months at Cheyney University. Things haven’t ended well for Flanigan in his last few stops, but his work at North Texas gives Lions fans something to be optimistic about.//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js